The £6.4m bid to cut down car use in Lewes Road, Brighton

In September - three months ahead of schedule - the cones will be packed away and people will be making their first journeys on the new carriageway either on foot, bike, bus or car.

But for some, the opening of the route will be the start of the hard work - to create lasting change and make people aware there is an alternative to the car.

Half way through a four year scheme to improve the Lewes Road area, The Argus can reveal exactly where the £6.4 million allocated to the project is being spent.

Documents released by Brighton and Hove City Council under the Freedom of Information Act confirm that only half of this money is to go on physical changes, such as new signs, upgraded traffic lights and - the centrepiece - a new cycle and bus lane.

The rest - about £3.1 million - will go to “soft” measures designed to encourage those in the 32,000 homes in the area to change their travel habits.

Among the initiatives include £465,000 to be spent on electric bikes to be leased to businesses and residents.

Specialised travel planning officers have also been employed to “influence consistent travel behaviour change” while incentives such as free bike locks, bus tickets to students and cycle maps will be handed out in due course.

According to Brighton and Hove City Council the aim is to spark a shift in people's attitudes towards travelling on Lewes Road - to put it simply, to get people out of the car and onto another form of transport.

With £6.4 million behind the project, no one can claim that there is not enough financial muscle to make it happen.

The majority of the money (£4.2 million) came from the Government.

However, as part of the bid, other organisations in the city, such as Brighton and Hove Albion, Brighton and Hove Bus Company and both the city's universities, were encouraged to contribute. This saw another £2.2 million thrown into the pot.

But will it lead to lasting change?

Green councillor Ian Davey said: “'I am delighted to see the work on the Lewes Road progressing so well.

“The overall improvements which include new bus stops on the nearby estates, additional pedestrian crossings together with improved links to the Universities, The Amex stadium and the South Downs have all been well received.

“I look forward to the new bus and cycle lanes being completed ahead of schedule in the autumn and thank people for their patience whilst the works are taking place.”

Christina Summers, who represents Hollingdean and Stanmer on the local authority, said: “This is not money that has come away from front line services.

“From what I have seen so far it seems that there has been an impact and that's before it's finished. But then perhaps am I being too optimistic.”

Steve Percy, who lobbies for motorists on the city's transport partnership, said: “That's a lot of money to slow the traffic down.

“We're spending money to go backwards as it completely halts the traffic flow.

“I don't think it will produce a result that's worth £6.4 million.”

WHERE WILL THE MONEY BE SPENT?

• Lewes Road: The flagship of the entire programme, work started in November on creating a new wider cycle lane and dedicated bus lane o the dual carriageway. Work should be completed in September this year, 3 months ahead of the original schedule The cost is expected to be £2 million - up from its estimate six months ago that it would cost £1.6 million.

• South Downs Links: With £660,000 allocated to make improvements, several new routes and crossings have been built to open up access to the national park from the Lewes Road area. Among the examples are a pavement alongside Stony Mere Way, footpath through Coldean Woods, and work on the new Falmer to Woodingdean pedestrian and cycle route. Bus stops: 13 new bus shelters have been installed in the surrounding residential areas of Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Coldean with a further five to come. Nearly £400,000 was allocated to this.

• Personalised Travel Planning: With £480,000 of funding, four officers have been employed to go door-to-door and give personalised advice to about 25,000 homes and businesses on ways they can travel. Information includes cycle maps and bus timetables while residents can also claim a free incentive such as a bike lock or lights in exchange for completing a one week travel diary which enables us to understand their travel behaviour. The local authority believes it leads to a 5% increase in the number of people who choose to travel by sustainable modes instead of car.

• School and University Travel Planning: About £1.1 million was set aside to make improvements at schools and universities in the area. So far, 12 schools have received new or improved cycle and scooter storage while bus stops have also been improved.

• Electric bikes: With £445,000 from the University of Brighton, 35 bikes will be bought and leased to businesses and community groups. The council will contribute £20,000 towards parking facilities and training.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Catherine Batson, 21, who lives in the Lewes Road area, Brighton “I think it's a good idea there's a lot of traffic so it will help that and it stops danger. The road works are holding the road up so it's not good when I rely on them for work. But it's good to see money spent on the city that will help in the long run”.

Polly Scott, 28, of Hollingbury, Brighton “I am not usually in this are too much, but I don't think will help, I know a lot of people in the area are unhappy with the traffic lights and congestion of traffic”.

James Bissell, 20, a student at the University of Brighton “It has made the road a lot more dangerous for cyclists and drivers because of the traffic and struggle to move into one lane. But it will be better in the long run; it encourages help for the environment.”

Paul Harvey, 25 and Tallulah Rose Harvey, 3, who live in the Lewes Road area, Brighton “I don't think it helps as the time its taking is causing more pollution rather than helping to stop the pollution.

“All of the money could have gone on better things.

“It is a waste at the moment. In rush hour buses are so full so I have started to cycle - it's easier there's no queues”.

Adam Garwood, 19, of Hollingdean, Brighton “I think it is kind of a good idea, but because the road links to the football stadium traffic has became a problem.

“It helps for buses because more people can use public transport but people driving will be annoyed because they won't want money spent on that. In the long run it will be good for people and for the environment.”